Bed bath

ABSTRACT

An inflatable bath is provided that may be placed on most beds. A helper rolls a cart with a supply tank filled with water and a waste water tank beside a bed. The helper places a deflated bath underneath a person in the bed, by rolling the person first to one side and then to the other. The helper then inflates the bath and fills the bath with water from the supply tank by means of a water pump. The water in the supply tank is heated by a water heater, regulated by a water gauge. Optionally, air jets supply a water massage and a shower supplies a shower. After the person finishes bathing, the water is drained into another tank on the cart, and the bath is dried, deflated and removed from the bed. The helper can then wheel the cart away and dispose of the waste water.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention relates to baths and more particularly to an inflatable bath for washing people in bed.

BACKGROUND

Washing the body and hair is important for health and well being. However, washing can be difficult if a person is bedridden or cannot easily leave the bed. Such a person must typically be carried to a bath or shower by one or more helpers, which is often difficult. Or the person needs to have a helper bring a basin of water and other necessary supplies to the bed so that the person can be painstakingly washed without unduly wetting the bed. But this method does not provide a full or fully satisfying bath. Moreover, if the bed becomes too wet as the result of splashing or spilling from the basin, the helper must take the person out of the bed and replace the bedding and perhaps the mattress. Washing the hair while in bed can be even more difficult, since the person has to move his or her head to the side of the bed to allow the hair on the head to be washed, which can be awkward or difficult for someone who is bedridden.

Because of the difficulties associated with washing while in bed, mechanical means have been designed to help with this task. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,099 for Heier provides a wash water draining device for washing patients in bed, with a mattress base formed by inflatable chambers and disposed underneath a waterproof bed mattress. However, this method may be difficult to use, since few people have waterproof bed mattresses and purchasing them would be expensive.

Therefore, there is a need for an inflatable bath that may be placed over most beds, so that a bedridden person can take a bath there.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The following explanation describes the present invention by way of example and not by way of limitation.

It is an aspect of the present invention to provide an inflatable bath that may be placed over most beds, so that a bedridden person can take a bath there.

It is another aspect of the present invention to provide means for inflating and deflating an inflatable bath.

It is still another aspect of the present invention to provide means for filling and draining an inflatable bath.

It is still another aspect of the present invention to provide means for controlling the temperature of the water for an inflatable bath.

It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide means for supplying air for a water massage to an inflatable bath.

These and other aspects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and the associated drawing. An inflatable bath is provided that may be placed on most beds. A helper rolls a cart with a supply tank filled with water and a waste water tank beside a bed. The helper places a deflated bath underneath a person in the bed, by rolling the person first to one side and then to the other. The helper then inflates the bath and fills the bath with water from the supply tank by means of a water pump. The water in the supply tank is heated by a water heater, regulated by a water gauge. Optionally, air jets supply a water massage and a shower supplies a shower. After the person finishes bathing, the water is drained into another tank on the cart, and the bath is dried, deflated and removed from the bed. The helper can then wheel the cart away and dispose of the waste water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following embodiments of the present invention are described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram that illustrates an inflatable bath that may be placed on most beds.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The following description of drawings is offered to illustrate the present invention clearly. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the concepts of the present invention are not limited to these specific details. Also, commonly known elements are shown in the diagram for clarity, as examples only and not as limitations of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention comprises the following elements:

An inflatable bath 2,

An inflation valve 4,

A supply tank 6,

A wheeled cart 8,

Controls 10,

A filling hose for water 12,

A filling hose for air 13,

A shower wand 14,

Air jets 16,

A drain 18,

A drain hose 20,

A waste water tank 22,

A deflation valve 24,

A shelf 26, and

An inflatable pillow 28.

In an embodiment, the inflatable bath 2 is rectangular and measures six to six and a half feet in length, two and a half to three feet in width, and two feet in height. It may be produced from a durable vinyl plastic or a similar plastic. In other embodiments, the inflatable bath 2 may be in other shapes, for example an oval.

In still another embodiment, the inflatable bath 2 may be designed for use with children. For example, the inflatable bath 2 may be rectangular and measure four feet in length, two and a half to three feet in width, and one and a half feet in height.

An inflation valve 4 on the inflatable bath 2 enables air to be introduced through a filling hose for air 13.

A supply tank 6 is mounted on a wheeled cart 8 and provides water to the inflatable bath 2 through a filling hose for water 12 with a hard plastic nozzle. In an embodiment, the wheeled cart 8 is produced from metal or plastic and is equipped with plastic or metal wheels with rubber tires to allow the cart to be easily moved from one location to another. The supply tank 6 comprises an electric water pump for pumping water through the filling hose 12 and an electric water heater for heating the water for the bath. The electric water heater is wired to a temperature gauge to prevent the water from becoming uncomfortably hot. The supply tank 6 also comprises an air pump for inflating the inflatable bath 2 through the filling hose for air 13. The water pump, water heater, and air pump are well known to those skilled in the art.

Controls 10 on the supply tank 6 enable the user to turn on and off the water pump, the water heater, and the air pump. An electric power supply and cord for a wall socket may be supplied to power the controls, the water pump, the water heater, and the air pump, as is well known to those skilled in the art. In an embodiment the supply tank 6 holds five gallons of water and is produced of metal.

In an embodiment, a shower wand 14 attached to the supply tank 6 provides a shower stream of water to the inflatable bath 2.

In another embodiment, one or more air jets 16 on the inside of the inflatable bath 2 provide one or more streams of air to the bath water, to create a water massage effect.

A drain 18 enables water from the inflatable bath 2 to be drained downhill through a drain hose 20 to a waste water tank 22 after a stopper in the drain 18 is removed. In an embodiment the waste tank 22 also holds five gallons of water and is produced of metal.

After the water has been drained, a deflation valve 24 enables the inflatable bath 2 to be deflated.

In an embodiment, a shelf 26 is provided on the wheeled cart 8 for storage of items for bathing, for example soap and towels or other useful items.

In another embodiment, an inflatable pillow 28 is provided to elevate the head of the person taking the bath above the water, which may be important when the personal has limited mobility. The inflatable pillow 28 may be of any useful shape and may be inflated by any inflation means, for example by blowing into a tube on the inflatable pillow 28. Typically the inflatable pillow 28 is placed at one end of the inside of the inflatable bath 2.

Use

Typically a helper aids the bather with the inflatable bath 2. The helper fills the supply tank 6 with water, rolls the wheeled cart 8 beside the bed, and plugs the power cord into an electrical wall socket. The shelf 28 on the wheeled cart 8 may be used to carry supplies for the bath, for example soap, towels, and any other useful items.

The person in the bed rolls to one side, or is rolled there by the helper. It is easy then for the helper to tug the deflated bath 2 partway underneath the person. The person in the bed rolls to the other side, or is rolled there by the helper. The helper can then tug the deflated bath 2 fully underneath the person.

The helper places the filling hose for water 13 in the inflatable bath 2 and attaches the filling hose for air 13 to the inflation valve 4, and the drain hose 20 to the drain 18. The helper then uses the controls 10 on the supply tank 6 to inflate the inflatable bath 2 around the person in the bed, to heat the water for the bath, and to pump the water into the inflatable bath 2 until bath is full. In an embodiment, the controls 10 also enable air to be pumped to the inflatable bath 2, through the air jets 16 and into the water in the bath 2 for a water massage effect. In an embodiment, a shower wand 14 is used to provide a shower. If desired, the helper may use the hose 12 with the nozzle for washing the person's hair.

After the bathing, the helper removes the stopper from the drain 18 to enable the water to be drained into the waste water tank 22 on the cart 8. The helper dries the person and helps the person out of the bath 2. The person in the bed again rolls to one side, or is rolled there by the helper. It is easy then for the helper to tug the deflated bath 2 partway from underneath the person. The person in the bed rolls to the other side, or is rolled there by the helper. The helper can then tug the deflated bath 2 fully out from underneath the person.

The helper can then detach the bath 2 from the hoses 12, 13, and 20, and can remove the bath 2 from the bed and dry and deflate the bath 2. The helper can then wheel the cart 8 away and dispose of the waste water, for example by pouring the water into a bathtub for drainage.

The best dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention described above, including variations in form and use, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 

1. An apparatus for bathing a person in bed, the apparatus comprising an inflatable bath, a supply tank, a waste water tank, and a wheeled cart that supports the supply tank and the waste water tank.
 2. The inflatable bath of claim 1, wherein the inflatable bath comprises an inflatable container, an inflation valve, a deflation valve, and a drain with a stopper.
 3. The inflatable container of claim 1, wherein the inflatable container is rectangular in shape.
 4. The inflatable container of claim 1, wherein the inflatable container is oval in shape.
 5. The supply tank of claim 1, wherein the supply tank comprises a container for water, an electrical water pump, a filling hose for water, means of controlling the temperature of the water, an electrical air pump, a filling hose for air, controls, an electrical power supply, and an electrical water heater.
 6. The means of controlling the temperature of the water of claim 1, wherein the means of controlling the temperature of the water comprises an electrical water heater, and a temperature gauge.
 7. The waste water tank of claim 1, wherein the waste water tank comprises a container for water, and a drain hose.
 8. The wheeled cart of claim 1, wherein the wheeled cart comprises a shelf.
 9. An apparatus for bathing a person in bed, the apparatus comprising an inflatable bath, wherein the inflatable bath comprises an inflatable container, an inflation valve, a deflation valve, a drain with a stopper, and at least one air jet; a supply tank, wherein the supply tank comprises a container for water, an electrical water pump, a filling hose for water, means of controlling the temperature of the water, wherein the means of controlling the temperature of the water comprises an electrical water heater, and a temperature gauge, an electrical air pump, a filling hose for air, controls, an electrical power supply, an electrical water heater, and a shower wand; a waste water tank, wherein the waste water tank comprises a container for water, and a drain hose; and a wheeled cart that supports the supply tank and the waste water tank.
 10. The inflatable container of claim 9, wherein the inflatable container is rectangular in shape.
 11. The inflatable container of claim 9, wherein the inflatable container is oval in shape.
 12. The inflatable container of claim 9, wherein the inflatable container measures six and a half feet in length, three feet in width, and two feet in height.
 13. The inflatable container of claim 9, wherein the inflatable container measures four feet in length, three feet in width, and one and a half feet in height.
 14. The wheeled cart of claim 9, wherein the wheeled cart comprises a shelf.
 15. An apparatus for bathing a person in bed, the apparatus comprising an inflatable bath, where in the inflatable bath comprises an inflatable container, an inflation valve, a deflation valve, a drain with a stopper, and at least one air jet; a supply tank, wherein the supply tank comprises a metal five-gallon container for water, an electrical water pump, a filling hose for water, means of controlling the temperature of the water, wherein the means of controlling the temperature of the water comprises an electrical water heater, and a temperature gauge; an electrical air pump, a filling hose for air, controls, an electrical power supply, a electrical water heater, and a shower wand; a waste water tank, wherein the waste water tank comprises a metal five-gallon container for water, and a drain hose; and a wheeled cart that supports the supply tank and the waste water tank, wherein the wheeled cart comprises a shelf; and an inflatable pillow.
 16. The inflatable container of claim 15, wherein the inflatable container is rectangular in shape.
 17. The inflatable container of claim 15, wherein the inflatable container is oval in shape.
 18. The inflatable container of claim 15, wherein the inflatable container measures six and a half feet in length, three feet in width, and two feet in height.
 19. The inflatable container of claim 15, wherein the inflatable container measures four feet in length, three feet in width, and one and a half feet in height. 